After watching this, I thought about the movie. The first part I remembered was where he beat the **** out of Jenny's boyfriend. I decided I wanted to watch it again. Going on youtube, the only version I could find was in German.

So I just watched Forrest kick the crap out of the dude while everyone screamed at them in German.

Every so often there comes along a movie that has near perfect writing. The story, the action, the characters, everything just clicks and works in a seamless way.

Some movies, like the Dark Knight, are remembered not for the brilliance of the movie itself but for one specific character or scene.

This is one of the few movies that is remembered not only for perfect writing, but for a perfect character. If anyone here has not seem Forrest Gump, get off your virgin neckbeard ass and buy, torrent or netflix this ******* movie before I shove a chocolate banana up your dick.

I agree with the Oscar going to Forrest Gump over Pulp Fiction. I've watched both, and both were amazing movies, but I needed to watch Pulp Fiction 3 times to understand everything that was happening. I also went online and Googled the correct timeline, and all that. In the end, it didn't have many emotional scenes and one of the main characters died in an anticlimactic way, or at least I think. With Forrest Gump, I felt the emotion all the way through. From meeting Jenny for the first time, to running his leg braces off, to finding out she has an abusive father, to watching him meet Bubba, and subsequently losing him in a very emotional scene. I then go on to see him and Lt. Dan recover and start the shrimp business, that Forrest promised Bubba. He gave Bubba's share to Bubba's family, and meets Jenny again, has sex for his first time, and decides to run a cross country marathon, and back. When he finally returns, he returns to find Jenny had his child...... That **** was emotional.

I believe the reason Forrest Gump won over Pulp Fiction, was because there were too many primary characters. A main character kills another main character, after having seen a glimpse into both of their lives. A part of me wanted them to begin working together, or if not, at least have a gun fight, but one just ends up spraying the other, who had most recently been reading a book on the toilet. It didn't let me side with a character, or get emotional about his death, because both views canceled each other out.

First of all, thank you for posting a clear argument and backing up your points. Rare to see.

Second I just feel that you having to watch Pulp Fiction 3 times to get it just goes to say how impressively set up the whole thing is. You talked about well written movies. Pulp Fiction might be one of the best written movies of all time, in terms of changing the game and creating a whole new generation trying to replicate what Quentin Tarantino does but no one really living up to it.
Sure Forrest Gump is more emotional, Pulp Fiction isn't trying to be and I can definitely enjoy the both of them for different reasons.
The only thing that slightly bugs me about Forrest Gump, even though it plays a part in what makes it so great. Is how neatly it's all wrapped up in a bow. It's almost a bit too perfect.

But it's all part of the game, diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. I know for sure I'll rewatch them both again a few times before they die.

And who saved Lieutenant Dan's life??? Who owned Bubba Gump Shrimp Corporation? Who inspired John Lennon's "Imagine"? Who beat China in ping-pong? Who showed JFK his ass right after receiving a Medal of Honor? Who inspired the smiley face sticker guy? Or the "**** happens" sticker guy? And who, my good sir, mowed a ******** of grass simply because he enjoyed it, even though he was a gazillionire?????? Don't diss Forrest Gump. He kicks ass.

Not sure why you're getting thumbed down... the movie is based on a novel, therefore the touching dialogue in question is derived from such. That being said, Mr. Hanks acting here absolutely ******* nails it.

I've always interpreted this movie to be about destiny. Forrest Gump suffers from borderline mental retardation, which would destine him to a mediocre life. However, he defies this destiny and instead does best with the hand he's dealt. He influences Elvis and Lennon, becomes a war hero, meets 3 presidents, becomes a world famous ping pong player, ect. Meanwhile, the lady who drives the school bus remains a bus driver throughout the movie, despite being dealt a much better hand in life than Forrest. So the movie shows that there isn't really such thing as destiny; what people accomplish in life isn't predestined at birth.

Also, when Forrest speaks at Jenny's tomb, he says "Jenny, I don't know if Momma was right or if, if it's Lieutenant Dan. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time." The feather floating around in the breeze and the famous quote "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get" both allude to chance.

TDLR; I think Forrest Gump's theme is defying destiny. Anyone else have any other interpretations?

how about we all have a destiny, a place were meant to go, but we get there however we choose like a feather in the wind. its a combination of lt.dan and mama's. and even tho the feather flew all sorts of places it still ended up where it was meant to be at the end.

As a chap studying Film and TV within the media I chose this as my film studies case study. And you have summed up my entire essay in a short paragraph. I applaud you for your consideration into the film and the way you've placed it out is incredible.

I also stepped into Forests ability to look past social stereotypes, not because he didn't know any better but because h understood the role of being different. Like as he thinks the "Coons" are Raccoon's and not the original term the young Caucasian meant to *******.

I was going to say overcoming great odds, but you kind of beat me to it. Destiny is the greatest odd, it's the invisible looming beast that hovers over you making sure that you follow a specific life path. Sure, some break away from it and become amazing people but most trudge along under it and don't deviate far away.
In Forest Gump, though, it almost seems like he was too stupid to follow the path. Not in a bad way or anything, just that he saw where his life was going and chose not to be a part of it. He saw the town he lived in, the bullies that picked on him, the people that called him simple and instead of just keeping to himself and going along with it, he leaves. Like an animal in pain, he walks away from the source and finds himself where as most people would have just accepted the hand they were dealt and not done anything to change it.
TL;DR: Forest Gump had an amazing life because he was too stupid to understand why everyone else was so mundane.